Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Kyzel strode into the suite he shared with Rol.
The last two nights—and days—with Robyn still glowed in his heart, a part of every breath he took.
Had he ever been happier, more content, about anything in his entire life?
Had anyone woven their way into the very fabric of his soul as she had?
Granted, the birth of his heirs had brought its own magic and joy, but it was different to what he shared now with her.
And they would be leaving for a long weekend together in just a few days. He would have to tell her then, reveal who he was. It was no longer prudent to keep that from her.
“You have finally chosen to return.” Rol’s words penetrated his thoughts. “I will schedule passage on the next—”
“Stop, Rol.”
Rol sighed and looked up from the Earth book in his hands. “Can you blame me for being concerned?”
“As my friend, no. But this is my decision to make. Mine and Robyn’s.”
“A decision that will affect our clan, and, to a lesser degree, Bezchi.” Rol snapped the book closed and rose.
“It did not seem to be a problem when we left. What do you wish, Rol? That I abdicate to soothe everyone’s ruffled feathers?” That was not his first choice, but maybe it would be best for the clan to elect a new ruling pair.
Rol’s eyes widened with shock. “No, I—”
“Then why do you continue fighting my choice?” He curled his fingers into fists.
“Because,” a new voice interrupted, “your choice goes against the very traditions you are bound to uphold and protect.”
Kyzel turned his attention to the unexpected visitor standing in the doorway to the private rooms. The creases of age lined the male’s face and bare arms. Everything else was covered in the Firewing clan’s traditional flowing garb.
His red headfeathers and wings were covered with a silvery sheen. Yet, despite his age, he stood tall.
Rol gestured halfheartedly toward the newcomer. “Kyzel, this is Elder Kai Firewing.”
“Greetings, Monarch Raptorclaw.” Firewing inclined his head.
Kyzel crisscrossed his arms, pressing the pulse points of his wrists over his heart, and gave the elder a bow of respect. “Greetings, Elder Kai. To what do I owe the pleasure of your attention?”
Not that he could not guess.
“Curiosity,” the elder stated.
Doubtful that was the only reason, but he would play along.
“About Earth?” He reached into his omlek pocket and pulled out the folded piece of paper Robyn had given him. “I have a list of sights to see from Robyn, a local resident who I am considering as a mate.”
Kai narrowed his gaze. “You have caused great consternation amongst the elders, Kyzel of the raptor clan.”
How had the Firewing elders found out about his search so quickly? Kyzel cast an accusing glare at Rol, but his friend shook his head. So, Kai’s visit was not Rol’s doing.
The elder continued. “We are not convinced that your actions are in the best interest of Bezchi. I am here to meet the Earth elder who is assisting you with your…match.”
“You mean, Ms. Vogel?” It would be interesting to see how the Silverstar agent would respond to that request. And how would she feel about being referred to as elder.
Kai blinked as though mildly confused, or surprised. “Is that the elder’s name?”
“Yes.”
“Then, you will take me to them.”
“As you wish, honorable one.” After a quick crash course on the cultural aspects of interacting with Earthlings.
Rol reached over and plucked Robyn’s list from his hand. “While you do that, I will go see the sights. After all, I have been entertaining the honorable one for two days while you were otherwise occupied.”
So, this was why Rol seemed more conflicted now. The elder must have fed into his doubts all weekend. Curse it all. He would need to stay alert around the old phoenix.
“Sounds fair, but our discussion is not over.”
Rol dipped his head. “As you wish, my monarch.”
It was a shame to lose valuable time to change Rol’s perspective, but finding a distraction for the elder before the male tried to match him with someone else was a more pressing issue.
“I swear to God, Robyn, you’ve been smiling all morning.”
Robyn met her supervisor’s gaze. “No, I haven’t.”
Jayla’s grin stretched across her broad face like she’d figured out the meaning of life, the universe, and everything. “Must’ve been quite a weekend.”
Well, I guess Kyzel was right about my face being expressive.
Or Jayla was just too astute. But dang if all that happiness would stay bottled up. “It was nice.”
She opened her wallet and pulled out a twenty.
“Pfft. More than nice, I think, but I can wait. I’ll get it out of you eventually.” Jayla cackled with glee.
You only think you will. Robyn put the wallet back in her purse and gave the drawer a push. The metal glides screeched in unison as it closed. “I’m going to grab a bite to eat. Be back in thirty.”
“I’ll be here, waiting.” Jayla’s grin was almost evil. “See ya.”
It didn’t take long to pop into Magoo’s and pick up a plate of mushu pork, then head along the sidewalk back toward the office.
“Ms. Donahue?”
Robyn turned to face the man coming behind her. Not human, a Bezchian. And not as tall as Kyzel, but she still had to tip her head to meet his gaze. “Yes?”
What interesting eyes he has. One gray, one blue.
He stopped a few feet away, smiling in a friendly sort of way. “I am Rol, Kyzel’s friend.”
“Oh…oh, yes.” Why was he here? “How are you?”
“I am well. Your planet is quite interesting.” He held up a folded piece of paper. “Kyzel gave me your list of sights to visit, thank you.”
Ah, so that’s how he’d found her. She’d written the list on a piece of work stationery.
“You’re welcome.” She glanced behind him. “Is Kyzel with you?”
“An elder arrived from home two days ago. Kyzel is in discussion with him regarding business issues.” He gestured in the direction she had been walking. “I do not mean to delay you from your errand. May I walk with you?”
“Sure, of course.”
He fell in beside her, keeping a respectful distance. “I am glad I accompanied Kyzel on his quest to replace Careene.”
Her feet seemed to trip over themselves. She stopped and stared at Rol, her heart caught in her throat. “What do you mean replace?”
Rol pursed his lips as though confused. “I…perhaps I used the wrong word? The internal translator is usually excellent, but occasionally there are mistakes.”
That must be it. Even high-tech devices weren’t completely infallible.
“I see now why he is so taken by you,” Rol continued. “I must admit, I was skeptical about his venture here to find a new mate. After all, he and Careene had been matched by our traditions, and were very happy together. It is only right that he honor his first mate by choosing another so similar.”
A small choking sound escaped her. Kyzel really did want to replace his first mate with her?
Rol sighed, as though the concept was romantic.
“Careene was everything to him, and now because of you, he has the chance to recapture that relationship. Do you know that he told me today that he would give up all his responsibilities back home for you?” Rol chuckled.
“Which is ridiculous, of course. He is a vital member of our society, and…are you well, Ms. Donahue?”
No, she wasn’t well. She’d fallen for Kyzel, but apparently he hadn’t seen her as anything other than the replacement wife.
“Ms. Donahue?”
“I…I’m fine.” Or, she would be if she could get away from this guy. She took in her surroundings, and her gaze fell on the familiar black lettering on Safe Harbor’s door a few steps away. “It was nice meeting you, Rol. I need to get back to work now.”
“Yes, of course.” He stepped away. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Donahue.”
“Yeah.” She ducked into the office without a backward glance.
What a miserable afternoon. Robyn sat in the driver’s seat of her car, staring at the cinderblock back wall of the building where she worked.
Even over four hours after her run-in with Rol, her head still spun.
Probably because she’d spent the entire afternoon trying to pretend everything was fine.
That yet another relationship wasn’t over before it’d begun.
She really, really needed to talk to someone.
She punched the speed dial on her cell phone and pressed it to her ear.
One ringy-dingy, two ringy-dingies, three—
“So, you finally decided to come up for air.” Meryl’s voice was like a balm on an open wound.
The floodgates opened and a sequence of sobs bubbled out of Robyn.
“Robbi? Robbi, what’s wrong?”
“E-e-everyth-th-thing.”
“What? What happened?”
“Kyzel is only in-interested in me bec-c-cause he wants to replace his f-first wife…mate.” Whatever.
“Who told you that?” Bless Meryl for sounding so mercenary, like she was going to kill whoever hurt her.
“H-his friend, R-Rol.” She sniffled.
“That dumb shit.”
“You…you know h-him?”
“I’ve met him, and honey, don’t you believe a word he says. He’s just jealous.”
She wiped the backs of her hands over her eyes. “What do you mean?”
“Just trust me. When are you seeing Kyzel again?”
“Thursday night.” She sniffled again. “We were planning to go away for the weekend.”
Meryl murmured something, then, “I’m at Kit-Kat’s. I’m putting you on speaker phone because she’s being a brat.”
“Hey!” Kathy protested.
“Okay,” Meryl continued, her voice taking on the speaker phone echo.
“Hi, Mom.” Kathy’s voice filled Robyn’s heart with love.
She swiped the backs of her hands over her cheeks. “H-hi, honey.”
“So,” Meryl said. “Here’s what you’re going to do, Robbi. You’re going to go away with Kyzel on Thursday night, as planned. You can talk things out with him then. And if you see Rol in the meantime, punch him in the fucking nose.”
“Auntie Meryl,” Kathy chided. “Hey, Mom?”
Funny how fast these two women could make her feel better. “Yes, honey?”
“Aunt Meryl seems to think this guy is wonderful, but does he make you happy?”
“Yes. Yes, he does.”
“Good. Then I can’t wait to meet him. But after you get back next week will be fine. Okay?”
Aw, she’d done something right raising this little girl into a woman. “Okay. Thank you, my love. See you later, ’kay?”
“’Kay.”
She disconnected from the call and dropped her phone back in her purse.
Yes, she was going to go on this romantic weekend with Kyzel, and she would darn well talk to him about his “friend.” But right now, she had things to do, like pick up something for dinner tonight then go home and scan the rental sites for a place.
She turned the key in the ignition and the engine chugged to life. Everything would be okay.
I hope.
Meryl pressed the disconnect button, then caught her bottom lip between her teeth. She had warned that busy-body winged off-worlder to stay out of Robyn’s business, but noooo. He just couldn’t do it, apparently.
Now she was forced to run interference, and he only had himself to blame. So, what could she do? It had to be something unexpected, without causing any real harm.
“I see you thinking, Auntie.”
Meryl met her goddaughter’s shrewd gaze. “So?”
Kit-Kat’s laughter filled the tiny apartment kitchen. “That’s your I’m plotting revenge face.”
“No, it isn’t.” Yes, it was. “You don’t suppose Bezchians have bank accounts, do you?”
“Let’s try something more…legal.”
“Party pooper.”
“Prison isn’t a party.”
She gave a snort and leaned back in her chair. “It could be, if we shared a cell.”
“Well, yeah, there is that.” Kit-Kat grinned. “But let’s try to stay on this side of the bars. What else can we do? Report him to Silverstar?”
The agency wouldn’t, couldn’t, do anything. Rol wasn’t a client of theirs—wait a goddamn minute. A slow grin tugged the corners of her mouth. “Kit-Kat, I think I have an idea….”
And Kathy had the technical expertise to pull it off.